Trade Goods
Leather Bottels - $75.00
by Graye Fox Leatherworks
All info written by Dave Hannon
These are leather "jackware" canteens
that have been used from the Middle Ages through to the 18th Century. The
"bottel" industry in England was huge for hundreds of years and were famous for
their quality. Styles changed a bit through the centuries, and several options
are available here.
In this photo the styles are:
Left: Tudor, 1500-1700 AD. Based upon
examples from the Mary Rose wreck 1545 AD.
Right: Colonial, 1700-1800 AD. Based upon an
example owned by the Duke of Wellington.
All are made from veg
tan leather than has been hardened in the traditional "cuir boille" manner, and
are triple lined inside with a mixture of pine brewers pitch and beeswax, and
coated with melted beeswax outside. They are solidly water proof, and hold
approximately 28-32 ounces, nearly a full quart, and are finished with a hemp
rope strap.
Price is $75.00 per Bottel
Historical Facts:
In Anglo-Saxon England these "bottels" were made by "shoe-wrights", craftsmen who made shoes and much more, nearly anything leather that was needed. When the Normans invaded in 1066 the introduced a rigorous bureaucracy that divided all leather workers into separate guilds, with the "cordwainers" (as the shoemakers were now called) in charge of the leather supplies to all the other guilds. Bottel makers became their own guild and could only make bottels and "jacks" (leather water pitchers, where the term jackware comes from), but that was only in the big cities where the guild system could be enforced like London and York, leather workers in the countryside continued to make any leather goods they liked including bottels. English bottels were famous worldwide as the best made, king Henry V made a gift basket present of bottels to the king of France (before they went to war, but that's a different story). The business of leather bottel making slowed down in the 18th century and nearly stopped in the 19th except for special commissioned pieces, but the art has been revived again today by living historians.
The two piece bottels here are known as "flacketts", the large jug shaped bottels are known as "costrels".
CARE:
1) Do not leave your leather bottel in a hot car! The pitch/wax lining will melt quickly and the stopper will not longer fit tightly. Do not leave it out in the sun on a hot day either, and if you carry it on you for an event in hot weather keep it filled to the top.
2) For water use only, do not put alcohol or spirits in your bottel, it will corrode the lining.
3) Do not sit on your bottle (obviously), hard field use voids the warranty. If for some reason you wish to re-line it you can do it yourself with melted beeswax, or I can do it for a fee.
Hand Strung Glass Beads with Trade Pewter – $5.00 - $20.00
We hand string various colors of Czech and French glass beads on linen cord in solids and traditional patterns. We also have necklaces with trade pewter crosses and turtles. Inquire about what we have in stock as well as what custom order we can make for you.
Brown Sheep Wool Skeins - $8.00
We are glad to sell the same wool that we use to make our hand knit hats. We have been using this wool for 2 years and find it excellent for making 18th century items. Inquire about colors and weights available.
Three Days Ration of Ships Bread - $25.00
A three days ration of hand baked Ships Bread made from an original recipe. Approximately 15 pieces per order, baked hard to last a long time in various conditions. Hand stamped with the King's mark. These are great for demonstrations. If you do want to eat them, you will need to soften in water or coffee. They are baked very hard like the originals.
Comes complete in a hand sewn linen bag.
1750 British Battalion Boxes - $150.00
We are again offering our BTP hand sewn 1750 British Battalion Boxes
Our boxes are hand sewn and hand dyed with a vegetable tan strap with three buckles. The block has 22 holes that will accommodate a .75 caliber cartridge. The block lifts out and has a compartment underneath for musket tools.
Our boxes are all hand made. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery Leather Covered Glass Water Bottle - $50.00 These water bottle are a great addition to any militia kit. Carry your water in a hand sewn leather covered water bottle. Our bottles come complete with stopper and hemp strap. Your water will never taste like rust and you will add an authentic item to your impression that is unrepresented with civilians. 
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